CAMP MEETING SEASON COMES TO AN END

 

Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA

 

“Every Sabbath, I usually worship at Ipagala Seventh-day Adventist Church. However, for this Sabbath, September 5, and throughout this entire week, I have been worshipping at Ilazo Seventh-day Adventist Church because we are here attending the camp meeting. Every Saturday, we attend worship services from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. At the moment, it is camp meeting season.”

 

These were the words of Joseph Masota Ndaro, Head of the Presidential Records Management Services Section at the Office of the President, National Archives and Records Department of Tanzania, when he met with Mwanakwetu in Dodoma.

 

For members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Saturday is not an ordinary day. It is a special day dedicated to worship, rest, fellowship, studying the Word of God and renewing one’s relationship with the Creator.

 

On this Friday, September 4, 2026, Mwanakwetu held brief conversations with members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, including Brother Ndaro, who explained how the current camp meeting period has changed the normal routine of church members.

“We Are at Camp”

 

Brother Ndaro explained that during this period, he and other church members have chosen to worship at Ilazo Seventh-day Adventist Church because of the ongoing camp meeting activities.

 

For them, these days are not simply about changing the location of worship. They are also an opportunity for learning, fellowship, strengthening faith and living more closely together as a family of believers.

 

During camp meetings, church members gather for several days, participating in worship services, Bible studies, prayers and various activities aimed at strengthening their spiritual and social lives.

 

Brother Ndaro, whose original profession is a secondary school teacher, explained from his perspective the meaning of camp meetings within the Seventh-day Adventist tradition.

 

“Seventh-day Adventist churches have a tradition of holding annual camp meetings where members gather and live in tents or camps for several days. Remembering the blessings received, this experience carries a spirit of thanksgiving for the harvest and unity, similar to the communal purpose of the traditional Feast of Tabernacles.”

These remarks show that camp meetings are not simply about gathering people in one place. For many believers, they provide an opportunity to reflect on life, give thanks for blessings, learn, pray, listen to spiritual teachings and strengthen social bonds.

 

In everyday life, filled with busy schedules, work responsibilities and various challenges, the Sabbath provides a unique opportunity for believers to pause, reflect and direct their thoughts toward God.

“Therefore, for a Seventh-day Adventist, attending church is not merely a routine. It is part of a life of faith.”

 

And when the Sabbath coincides with the camp meeting season, it creates even greater opportunities for believers to spend more time together, pray, learn and fellowship.

 

A Special Reunion

This conversation also carried another special memory.

 

Brother Ndaro once taught Mwanakwetu several subjects in Form One, Form Two and Form Three in Dar es Salaam between 1991 and 1993.

 

Many years have passed. Life has changed, and each person has followed his or her own educational and professional journey. Yet meeting again through conversations about faith, the Sabbath and everyday life felt like opening a page from an old book of memories.

 

It is a reminder that teachers do not only teach inside classrooms; they often leave lasting marks on the lives of their students for many years.

 

“For Seventh-day Adventists participating in these camp meetings, the central message is one of faith, unity, thanksgiving and drawing closer to God,”

Mr Ndaro said.

 

It is a time to temporarily step away from the busyness of the world and dedicate time to worship and fellowship.

 

From Ipagala to Ilazo, and from the classroom in 1991 to meeting again in 2026, this story carries one powerful message:

 

“Life may separate us for many years, but faith, memories and friendship can bring us together again in the most unexpected circumstances.”

 

A Message to the Faithful

 

In preparing this article, Mwanakwetu also spoke with Ms. Happines Masija, who is also a Seventh-day Adventist and serves as a Senior Human Resources Officer at the Office of the President, National Archives and Records Department. She shared the following message:

 

“To all members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who are observing this Sabbath and participating in the camp meeting activities, we wish you well. May the Lord bless you, protect you and strengthen you in faith, love and unity.”

I wish you a blessed Sabbath.

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